Wanted to let everyone know that this year’s World Magic Awards airs Thursday Night, November 19th, at 8/7c on My Network TV. Check your local listings for the channel number.
From MyNetworkTV.com:
Hosted by Robert Wagner and Jill St. John, this year’s spectacular awards show brings together the world’s top magicians. Showcasing some of today’s best illusionists, escape artists and sleight-of-hand masters, the television event includes appearances and performances by Franz Harary, Lance Burton, Ed Alonzo, Katalin, The Twins and many more.
I saw this video of David Blaine performing Street Magic for Tyra Banks and I thought you all would enjoy it. If you’ll notice during the trick, David intentionally messes up. Now, that mistake was essential to the trick he was performing. He made Tyra think that he had messed up, but in reality, he knew exactly what he was doing. But what if you actually mess up? It doesn’t matter!!! When Tyra thought he messed up, it was no big deal to her. It will be the same with your spectators. You can use the same technique David used. Just say something like “Oh that didn’t work, let me try something else.” Then you just move on to another trick and they’re never the wiser. They might actually think that you meant to mess up.
I just found out (a couple days late) that October 31 marked the anniversary of Harry Houdini’s death. That’s right. Perhaps the greatest Magician in history passed on Halloween. Strange. Houdini died in Detroit, MI on October 31, 1926 of gangrene and peritonitis resulting from a ruptured appendix. He was 52 years old.
Each November, the Society of America Magicians (SAM) performs their Broken Wand Ceremony at Houdini’s gravesite, which is located in Machpelah Cemetery in Queens, NY. Find out more at www.magicsam.com.
Lately I’ve been hearing a lot of controversy around the magic world regarding Criss Angel. Go into any magic forum online, or talk to a group of magicians, and you’ll always have a few complaining that Criss Angel is a fraud. He’s definitely a “love him or hate him” type of guy, and the people who hate him usually attribute that hate to the fact that most of his tricks are only possible through camera and TV trickery. Now, being magicians, we all know that magic isn’t real, right? So what’s the difference between camera trickery and the trickery and sleight of hand we use as street magicians? They both rely on a great deal of skill, concentration, and even acting from the magician. Magic relies on altering reality for the spectator with any means necessary. In my opinion, there is no difference between using a simple gimmick to perform a trick or using a camera. Unfortunately, not all of us have access to a multi-million dollar production team and camera equipment. But if we did? Of course we’d all be doing the same thing Criss is doing! He’s using whatever means necessary to produce incredible illusions and get some great responses. We should all be so lucky some day.
It’s been a long time since Magic graced the streets of Disneyland (and I don’t mean “Disney Magic”!).
Disneyland's Main Street Magic Shop
Magic shops are a part of Disneyland’s tradition, but lately, the “Main Street Magic Shop” was anything by magical. Sally French reported that nothing but generic Disney merchandise was available in the store during recent months.
We don’t have long to wait now, because this November the classic “Main Street Magic Shop” will come to life again with tricks and magicians.
Although the shop name will remain the same, “Houdini’s Magic Shop” is taking over as a private operator. David Gill, a spokesman for Disneyland, said “Houdini’s” was selected because of its strong reputation and the fact that it holds rights to key magic tricks. Besides selling magic tricks and supplies, the shop will also employ certified magicians to do tricks for shop guests.
Recently I asked the members if they had any ideas for improvements in the membership area. I received tons of replies and I’d like to thank everyone for their great ideas. Here’s one reply from a member, Jean, who had a wonderful idea. “You may want to explain how magic tricks can help the community. On TV last week they had a girl doing magic tricks in the hospital to try to help patients feel better about recovering.”
David Blaine visits a Children's Hospital - Christmas 2008
Jean definitely hit the nail on the head with that one. Magic is really one of those rare things that can be used for such good without a lot of effort. My problems are usually pretty small, but to this day I forget all of them when I watch a great magic show. Even if I know how they’re done! It’s even better for children. To them, magic is still real. It’s mystifying and it makes their imagination work overtime, which is a lesson often missing in schools these days. If you need a little more incentive, think about this. For those of you in Middle or High School, it’s impossible to ignore how great community service looks on a college application. It only takes a couple hours once a week to visit your local children’s hospital and perform a quick magic show for them. Trust me, the benefits you will reap go far beyond your college applications.
I also know a lot of you are thinking about the best way to move from performing magic as a hobby to performing magic as a career. Performing at a children’s hospital is a great free way to make some friends, get experience, and get your name out! Take some business cards, and casually hand one out when a staff member or parent lets you know how great they thought your show was. Now I hope it goes without saying, but of course you want to be subtle. You definitely don’t want to look like the only reason you are there is business. Do that, and your act will have a completely opposite effect!
Remember, children’s hospitals are not the only place you can go. Community centers and church groups are also great places to give back. Just make sure you call ahead, and check with the supervisor to make sure it’s okay for you to come, and set a time. You’ll be surprised how excited everyone is when you get there!
Here’s your weekly dose of magic on the good ol’ tube:
*All times are EST.
Tuesday August 25
9:19 am – Dark Magic – TCM Joe Doakes comic short in which the hapless everyman (Robert Benchley, who wrote the script) tries his hand at becoming an amateur magician and shows his newly learned tricks to his unimpressed son.
The Society of American Magicians has announced that their proposed location for their planned ‘Magic Center” will be Louisville, KY. As Kentucky is the headquarters for MasterYourMagic.com, we are pretty excited! According to sammagiccenter.com, “This magnificent 9-acre property will include the best museum of magic in the world, a magnificent research library, performing arts theater, S.Y.M. youth magic school and magic camp, souvenir magic store, and the world-wide headquarters of the S.A.M.”
